Personalised Number plates Twenty Years On
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by: Tom Sangers
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Word Count: 474
So who are buying these number plates and why?
When first launched onto the market, the plates were a sign of individuality, fast becoming indicators of status and wealth. Over time, as increasing numbers of drivers from all classes and walks of life have invested in them, they have inevitably lost their exclusivity, many argue. Indeed, some find them to be flamboyant, even in bad taste, despite the considerable price tag that comes with them.
Despite this perception, the demand continues; a primal urge to stand out from the crowd and declare your identity and status. Car registration plates which spell out a surname, especially short plates, tend to be most prized, with prices starting from around £200 and rising to several thousand pounds. Because they retain their value, they are considered an excellent long term investment, if chosen carefully. For example, the registration plate “1 NU”, valued at £2,400 in 1995, would now be valued at £75,000. Indeed, in many cases, the plate itself may well be more valuable than the car to which it is attached. There is also, of course, the added advantage that a bespoke number plate will hide the age of your car.
It’s big business, with many companies now buying personalised number plates and selling them on for profit, driving the market and attracting revenue for the Treasury – reportedly £1.2bn to date.
Many plates are now coming up at auction and achieving astounding prices. Last year, a number plate with the registration WEL 5H was sold for a staggering £27,500 at a DVLA registration plate auction, held in Newport, to a Welsh businessman living in Oxford.
Of course, plates can also be attractive to owners of medium or large businesses, who use them as a marketing tool, with personalisation incorporating the company name, therefore assisting the “branding” of an organisation.
So, if you are looking to make an investment, what sort of number plates should you look for? In a nutshell, the shorter the better, with letters and numbers spelling out a surname, first name or initials. Number “1” at the beginning is a good bet, as is one beginning with the letter “S”. Several companies now offer a free valuation service, as well as acting as dealers.
Whether you associate personalised number plates with sporting shoulder pads the size of a diving board and drinking Cinzano or as a real indicator of wealth and business sense, it seems that they are here to stay. Purchased by celebrities, businesspeople, those with a significant disposable income and those who just want to give the impression of having a disposable income, Number Plates can offer a good return on investment – and make heads turn.
About the Author
This article is written for an behalf of Speedy Reg on Number Plates
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